Detailed Description
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the drawings.
It will be understood that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used herein to distinguish one element from another, and that the element is not limited by these terms. Thus, a "first" element in an embodiment may be described as a "second" element in another embodiment.
It should be understood that descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
For the sake of ease of description, spatially relative terms, such as "under", "lower", "under", "below", "above", "upper", and the like, may be used herein to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms "below" and "under" may encompass both an orientation of above and below.
It will be understood that when an element such as a film, region, layer, etc., is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to," another element, it can be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. It will also be understood that when a component is referred to as being "between" two components, it can be the only component between the two components, or one or more intervening components may also be present. It will also be understood that when a component is referred to as "overlying" another component, it can be the only component that overlies the other component, or one or more intervening components may also overlie the other component. Other words used to describe the relationship between components should be interpreted in a similar fashion.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display device having a structural arrangement including a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion connected to a display panel, which may improve waterproof performance without additional construction or protective layers. According to an embodiment, an image circuit portion (also referred to as a first circuit portion) that may be used to transmit an image signal and a touch circuit portion (also referred to as a second circuit portion) that may be used to transmit and receive a touch signal may be configured to partially overlap. The region where the image circuit portion and the touch circuit portion are connected to each other may be referred to as a connection portion, and may be disposed between the display panel and the first circuit portion, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the display panel. By bending the image circuit portion and the touch circuit portion toward the rear of the display panel, the connection portion between the rear surface of the display panel and the image circuit portion can be effectively shielded.
The above arrangement can protect the connection from environmental exposure, which can improve the waterproof performance, and can also eliminate the need for an additional waterproof layer. In addition, the embodiment may include a hole or a groove portion through which the touch circuit portion in the image circuit portion passes, which may further secure the connection portion and improve the overall durability of the display device. Integration of the touch circuit portion with the image circuit portion may enable the touch signal to be accurately processed while being protected from external elements such as water and static electricity, which may improve durability and reliability of the device.
Referring to fig. 1 to 5, a display device according to an embodiment will be described.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 to 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 illustrates a state before assembling the display device according to the embodiment, fig. 3 illustrates an operation of assembling the display device according to the embodiment, and fig. 4 illustrates a state after assembling the display device according to the embodiment.
Referring to fig. 1, the display device according to the embodiment may include a display panel PN including a display area DA in which a plurality of pixels PX are arranged in a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2 and in which an image is displayed, and a non-display area NDA surrounding the display area DA in which an image is not displayed.
A driving region DRA including a circuit portion PS connected to the display panel PN and bent to the rear of the display panel PN is disposed at the periphery of a portion of the non-display region NDA of the display panel PN. The circuit portion PS refers to a component on which a circuit (e.g., an electric circuit) is provided, and the circuit (e.g., an electric circuit) may include an electric circuit component (such as a transistor, a resistor, a capacitor, or the like, for example). The electrical circuit including the electrical circuit assembly may be provided on, for example, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB), or the like. According to an embodiment, the circuit section PS may include an image circuit section MF (also referred to as a first circuit section) and a touch circuit section TF (also referred to as a second circuit section).
The connection portion may refer to a portion(s) of both the image circuit portion MF and the touch circuit portion TF that physically and electrically connect the image circuit portion MF and the touch circuit portion TF to each other. The connection portion may be formed, for example, when the touch circuit portion TF is pressed and bonded to the image circuit portion MF, which is described in further detail below. The connection part may be disposed between the rear surface of the display panel PN and the image circuit part MF, and may be covered and protected by the image circuit part MF. Further, as described in further detail below, the connection portion may pass through a hole formed in the image circuit portion MF, or may be inserted into a groove portion of the image circuit portion MF.
The non-display area NDA and the driving area DRA disposed at the periphery of the display area DA may form a peripheral area PA.
The display area DA may include a plurality of display signal lines transmitting driving signals driving a plurality of pixels PX.
The display signal line may include a gate line transmitting a gate signal and a data line transmitting a data signal.
The display area DA may include a touch active area, and the touch active area may include a touch sensing layer.
The touch sensing layer may include a touch electrode and a touch signal line transmitting and/or receiving a signal to the touch electrode.
The touch active area may be the entire display area DA or may include a portion of the peripheral area PA.
In addition, a portion of the display area DA may be a touch effective area.
The touch sensing layer may detect touches using various methods. For example, a touch detection sensor of the touch sensing layer may employ resistive, capacitive, electromagnetic (EM), or optical type sensing.
The driving region DRA may be disposed under the non-display region NDA of the display panel PN along the second direction DR 2. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
As described above, the circuit part PS may include a connection part connected to the display panel PN and a bent part bent from the connection part to the back of the display panel PN.
Referring to fig. 2 to 4 together with fig. 1, the circuit part PS disposed in the driving region DRA may include an image circuit part MF supplying image signals to a plurality of pixels PX disposed in the display panel PN to display an image, and a touch circuit part TF transmitting a touch detection signal to the display panel PN.
The image circuit portion MF may transmit the driving signal to a plurality of display signal lines connected to a plurality of pixels PX, and the touch circuit portion TF may transmit the detection input signal to the touch sensing layer.
The touch circuit portion TF may process an output signal from the touch sensing layer to generate touch information (such as whether a touch has occurred and a location of the touch).
Referring to fig. 2, the display panel PN may include a front surface PNA displaying an image using a plurality of pixels PX and a rear surface PNB opposite to the front surface PNA.
The front surface PNA and the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN may be disposed opposite to each other along a third direction DR3 perpendicular to the first and second directions DR1 and DR 2.
The circuit part PS may be connected to the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN.
The image circuit portion MF of the circuit portion PS may include a first surface MFA and a second surface MFB disposed opposite to each other.
The touch circuit portion TF of the circuit portion PS may include a first portion TFA connected to the display panel PN and disposed on the first surface MFA of the image circuit portion MF, and a second portion TFB connected to the first portion TFA and disposed above the second surface MFB. The second portion TFB is connected to the image circuit section MF. The second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may include a sub-touch circuit portion transmitting a signal to detect a touch signal of the display panel PN.
The image circuit portion MF of the circuit portion PS may include a hole HL, and a connection portion between the first portion TFA and the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may pass through the hole HL of the image circuit portion MF.
The second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF and the second surface MFB of the image circuit portion MF are pressed and bonded to each other so that the sub-touch circuit portion provided in the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may be connected to the image circuit portion MF.
Referring to fig. 3, in an assembly operation of the display device according to the embodiment, the image circuit portion MF and the touch circuit portion TF of the circuit portion PS may be bent in the bending direction BDR.
Referring to fig. 4, the image circuit portion MF and the touch circuit portion TF of the circuit portion PS may be bent in the bending direction BDR and attached to the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN.
The sub-touch circuit part provided in the second portion TFB of the touch circuit part TF may be connected to the image circuit part MF through a pressing process.
For example, the touch circuit portion TF may be pressed and bonded to the image circuit portion MF by pressing the touch circuit portion TF at high temperature and high pressure using an anisotropic conductive film.
The pressed and bonded portion (i.e., the connection portion) of the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF connected to the image circuit portion MF may be disposed between the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN and the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the pressed and bonded portion (i.e., the connection portion) between the image circuit portion MF and the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF can be covered and protected by the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the waterproof performance can be maintained without adding an additional waterproof layer.
In addition, the pressed and bonded portion (i.e., the connection portion) of the touch circuit portion TF can be protected from external static electricity.
Referring to fig. 5 and 6 together with fig. 1 to 4, the circuit part PS provided on the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN will be described in more detail below.
Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a partial rear region of a display panel of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a rear partial region of fig. 5 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to fig. 5, an image circuit portion MF of the curved circuit portion PS may be provided on the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN.
The first portion TFA of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed on the first surface MFA of the image circuit portion MF.
Referring to fig. 6 showing the rear partial region R1 of fig. 5, the image circuit portion MF has a hole HL, and the touch circuit portion TF may pass through the hole HL.
The second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may be pressed and bonded to the second surface MFB of the image circuit portion MF.
The sub-touch circuit portion of the touch circuit portion TF may be provided in the second portion TFB.
Accordingly, the sub-touch circuit portion of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed between the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN and the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the pressed and bonded portion (i.e., the connection portion) between the image circuit portion MF and the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF can be covered and protected by the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the waterproof performance can be maintained without adding an additional waterproof layer.
In addition, the pressed and bonded connection portion of the touch circuit portion TF can be protected from external static electricity.
Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The embodiment of the display device described with reference to fig. 7 is similar to the embodiment of the display device described with reference to fig. 1 to 6. Further description of the previously described components and technical details will be omitted for ease of explanation.
Referring to fig. 7, in the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, similar to the display device according to the embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 6, the image circuit portion MF and the touch circuit portion TF of the circuit portion PS are bent and attached to the rear surface PNB side of the display panel PN.
However, unlike the embodiment of the display device described with reference to fig. 1 to 6, the image circuit portion MF of the display device according to the embodiment described with reference to fig. 7 has a groove portion HHL instead of the hole HL, and the touch circuit portion TF passes through the groove portion HHL while being inserted into the groove portion HHL, so that the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed behind the image circuit portion MF.
The first portion TFA of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed on the first surface MFA of the image circuit portion MF, and the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed on the second surface MFB of the image circuit portion MF, and may be attached by pressing it to the second surface MFB opposite to the first surface MFA.
The sub-touch circuit portion of the touch circuit portion TF may be provided in the second portion TFB.
Accordingly, the sub-touch circuit portion of the touch circuit portion TF may be disposed between the rear surface PNB of the display panel PN and the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the pressed and bonded connection portion between the image circuit portion MF and the second portion TFB of the touch circuit portion TF can be covered and protected by the image circuit portion MF.
Therefore, the waterproof performance can be maintained without adding an additional waterproof layer.
In addition, the pressed and bonded connection portion of the touch circuit portion TF can be protected from external static electricity.
The form of the touch circuit portion according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to fig. 8. For ease of explanation, further description of the previously described components and technical aspects will be omitted.
Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to fig. 8, the touch circuit portion TF1 according to the embodiment includes a first portion TF1A connected to the display panel PN, and second and third portions TF1B and TF1C extending obliquely in different directions from the first portion TF 1A.
For example, the touch circuit portion TF1 may have a planar shape similar to the letter Y of the alphabet.
The pressed and bonded connection portion of the touch circuit portion TF1 may be provided in the third portion TF1C of the touch circuit portion TF 1.
As described above, the image circuit portion MF may have the hole HL or the groove portion HHL, and the third portion TF1C of the touch circuit portion TF1 may pass through the hole HL or the groove portion HHL of the image circuit portion MF and be disposed behind the image circuit portion MF.
The form of the touch circuit portion according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to fig. 9. For ease of explanation, further description of the previously described components and technical aspects will be omitted.
Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to fig. 9, the touch circuit portion TF2 according to the embodiment includes a first portion TF2A connected to the display panel PN, and a second portion TF2B and a third portion TF2C sequentially extending from the first portion TF2A along the second direction DR 2.
The width of the second portion TF2B may be narrower than the widths of the first and third portions TF2A and TF2C along the first direction DR 1.
For example, the touch circuit portion TF2 may have a planar shape similar to the letter I of the alphabet.
The pressed and bonded connection portion of the touch circuit portion TF2 may be provided in the third portion TF2C of the touch circuit portion TF 2.
As described above, the image circuit portion MF may have the hole HL or the groove portion HHL, and the third portion TF2C of the touch circuit portion TF2 may pass through the hole HL or the groove portion HHL of the image circuit portion MF and be disposed behind the image circuit portion MF.
The form of the touch circuit portion according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. For ease of explanation, further description of the previously described components and technical aspects will be omitted.
Fig. 10 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to fig. 10, the touch circuit portion TF3 according to the embodiment includes a first portion TF3A connected to the display panel PN, and a second portion TF3B and a third portion TF3C sequentially extending from the first portion TF3A along the second direction DR 2.
The second portion TF3B may include a curved portion at a connection between the second portion TF3B and the first portion TF3A and at a connection between the second portion TF3B and the third portion TF 3C.
For example, the touch circuit portion TF3 may have a planar shape similar to the letter C.
The pressed and bonded connection portion of the touch circuit portion TF3 may be provided in the third portion TF3C of the touch circuit portion TF 3.
As described above, the image circuit portion MF may have the hole HL or the groove portion HHL, and the third portion TF3C of the touch circuit portion TF3 may pass through the hole HL or the groove portion HHL of the image circuit portion MF and be disposed behind the image circuit portion MF.
While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims.